Day 56. Thursday, September 9, 2010. My 60th birthday. Kagoshima to Tokyo.
BTW, I have no idea what the lyrics of "Die Fahne Hoch" mean.
Left the Hotel Nepi early. Loading the bike was a snap. The staff insisted that I leave it in the lobby last night. A bright morning. More pushing than yesterday, but, to my surprise it took exactly two hours, arriving at Tarumizu at 8:20 for the 8:25 ferry. Stopped at Gusto on the Kagoshima side for b'fast. Arrived at Kuroneko Yamato and gave them the undisassembled bicycle to ship back home (NB: Disassembling it would have not changed the shipping charge.). Souvenir buying at the station mall and then a stop at Daiei for food and drink for the 8-hour train ride back to Tokyo. Left Kagoshima on the 11:52 "Tsubame" Shinkansen.
Glad I did this trip, but glad it's over too. Miss my wife, kids, friends and "normal" life. It takes will power to keep going day after day, but it's not the physical aspect that often suggests quitting and must be overcome, but the psychological ones. This latter includes a feeling of isolation that arises unexpectedly from time to time and threatens an abrupt end to the undertaking. In addition, there is that doubt about the very value of attempting such a venture. Perhaps it's real value has yet to reveal itself. Perhaps changes have occurred of which I am not yet aware.
"All will be revealed."
A more detailed time line:
7:24 a.m.: photo at Arahira Shrine (high tide) on Rte. 68 about 15 km so. of Tarumizu
7:48 a.m.: stopped at Lawson in Shinjo, Tarumizu about 8.8 km so. of ferry port
8:26 a.m.: arrived at Tarumizu ferry port
8:30 a.m.: departure of ferry for Kagoshima
11:55 a.m.: departure by Shinkansen from Kagoshima Chuo Station
8:45 p.m.: arrived at home in Minami Tokiwadai, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo
NB: For a complete map of this trip go to my map at http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=212604391466540829641.00049962cafa13bd403f5
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